The IKEA Storklinta and Malm series are both popular, budget-friendly dresser choices, but they appeal to different needs and styles. Malm is known for its iconic, sleek design and wide variety of sizes, making it a versatile choice for modern bedrooms, while the Storklinta offers a more basic, utilitarian design focused purely on function and affordability.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right IKEA dresser for your home.
IKEA Storklinta Dresser
The Storklinta is a straightforward, functional dresser designed for simplicity and value. It serves buyers who need reliable storage without any stylistic flourishes. Its clean lines and compact footprint make it a practical choice for smaller bedrooms, guest rooms, or storage in a closet.
- What it is: A basic, budget-friendly dresser series with a simple, utilitarian design.
- Key features: Clean lines, simple knobs for hardware, engineered wood construction with a laminate finish.
- Price: Approximately $150 to $200.
- Style: Minimalist and functional. It blends into a room rather than making a statement, working well in modern or Scandinavian settings where simplicity is key.
- Materials/Construction: Made from engineered wood (particleboard) with a plastic foil finish. It's built for light to moderate use.
- Pros: An affordable price point. The simple design works in almost any space. Its smaller footprint is ideal for apartments or tight spaces. Easy to assemble.
- Cons: Limited size and finish options. The design may be too plain for those wanting more style. The basic construction is not intended for heavy, long-term wear.
The Storklinta is ideal for anyone on a tight budget needing a simple, no-frills storage solution where practicality is the top priority.
Shop this product: ikea.com/us/en/search/?q=storklinta/
IKEA Malm Dresser
The Malm is one of IKEA's most recognizable and enduring collections, famous for its sleek, handle-free design and incredible versatility. Its clean, modern aesthetic has made it a staple in contemporary homes, and the wide range of sizes ensures there is a Malm for nearly every room and storage requirement.
- What it is: A best-selling series of minimalist bedroom furniture, including dressers, beds, and nightstands.
- Key features: Iconic handle-free drawers for a seamless look, smooth-running drawers, available in many sizes from a 2-drawer chest to a large 6-drawer dresser.
- Price: Ranges from around $100 to $300, depending on size.
- Dimensions: Available in a wide array of configurations, with widths spanning from under 20 inches to over 60 inches.
- Materials/Construction: Engineered wood and fiberboard with wood veneer or painted finishes.
- Style: Sleek, modern, and timeless. The Malm’s polished look blends perfectly into contemporary, minimalist, and Scandinavian interiors.
- Pros: A vast selection of sizes offers great flexibility. The sleek, iconic design feels more upscale than its price. Often coordinates seamlessly with other IKEA furniture.
- Cons: The veneer or painted surface can be prone to scratches and chips. Requires wall anchoring for safety, as tall models can be a tipping hazard. Basic particleboard construction.
The Malm is perfect for those who want a stylish, modern aesthetic and need flexible sizing options to fit their specific space.
Shop this product: ikea.com/us/en/p/malm-6-drawer-dresser-white-804035xx/
Storklinta vs. Malm Comparison
Style & Aesthetic
This is the most significant difference between the two lines. The Malm dresser is designed with a specific contemporary aesthetic in mind. Its handle-free drawers and smooth surfaces create a polished, integrated look that is intentionally minimalist and modern. It feels like a design choice.
The Storklinta, on the other hand, is purely functional. Its design is simple and unobtrusive, meant to provide storage without drawing attention to itself. While clean and neat, it lacks the distinct stylistic signature of the Malm, looking more like basic furniture than a deliberate piece of decor.
Dimensions & Sizing Options
The Malm collection offers far more variety than the Storklinta. You can find a Malm to fit almost any need, from a narrow 2-drawer nightstand to a wide 6-drawer chest that can anchor a master bedroom. This flexibility makes it easy to find the perfect piece or create a cohesive set of storage furniture.
The Storklinta series is much more limited, typically offering only a few standard dresser sizes. It's intended to be a standalone, functional piece for small to medium rooms, not a comprehensive storage system.
Price & Value
On a direct size comparison, the Storklinta is generally the more affordable option. It is positioned as one of IKEA's entry-level storage solutions. If your goal is maximum storage for the lowest possible price, the Storklinta is a strong contender.
However, the Malm often presents better overall value. While it costs slightly more, the broader range of sizes, more polished design, and enduring popularity mean you're getting a more stylish and flexible piece. The larger Malm units, in particular, offer a great deal of storage for the price.
Materials & Durability
Both the Storklinta and Malm dressers are constructed from engineered wood (particleboard) and should be considered in the same durability tier. Neither is heirloom furniture, but both are sufficiently sturdy for everyday use when assembled correctly and not overloaded. The Malm is famously susceptible to surface scratches and water rings, so coasters and careful handling are required. The Storklinta's simpler finish is equally vulnerable to wear over time.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both are excellent budget-friendly dressers from IKEA, but they are built for different shoppers.
Choose the Storklinta if:
- Your primary concern is sticking to the lowest possible budget.
- You need a simple, no-frills dresser for a guest room, kid's room, or first apartment.
- A basic, purely functional aesthetic is perfectly fine for your space.
- You are looking for compact storage for a small bedroom or closet.
Choose the Malm if:
- You want a sleek, modern, and timeless design that makes a stylistic statement.
- You need specific dimensions or want many size options to choose from.
- You plan to create a coordinated bedroom set with matching furniture.
- You're willing to invest a little more for a polished and iconic look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Storklinta and Malm?
The primary difference is design and flexibility. The Malm has a sleek, iconic modern design and comes in a huge range of sizes, while the Storklinta is a more basic, functional dresser with very limited options.
Is the Malm higher quality than the Storklinta?
No, they are in a similar quality tier. Both are made from particleboard with a veneer or foil finish. The perceived difference in quality often comes from the Malm's more refined design and finish, but the core materials and expected lifespan are comparable.
Which IKEA dresser has more storage space?
The Malm collection offers larger models, like the wide 6-drawer dresser, which provide significantly more storage space than anything available in the Storklinta line.
Do I need to anchor these IKEA dressers to the wall?
Yes. IKEA strongly recommends and includes hardware for anchoring ALL of its chests and dressers to the wall to prevent tipping accidents. This is particularly important for taller units like the Malm.
Which one is easier to assemble?
Both use IKEA's standard picture-based instructions and hardware. Assembly is straightforward for both, with difficulty increasing with the number of drawers. Neither is significantly easier or harder to build than the other.
Can you customize a Storklinta or Malm dresser?
Yes, both are popular canvases for IKEA hacks. You can paint them, add new hardware (to the Storklinta or even the Malm), or apply decals. Just be sure to properly prepare the surface by lightly sanding and using a good quality primer before painting.
Which dresser is better for a small bedroom?
Both are good options. The Storklinta's smaller default size works well, but the Malm collection includes small 2-drawer chests and narrow 3-drawer chests that might fit a tiny space even better.
Are the drawers on the Malm soft-close?
By default, Malm drawers are not soft-close, but they run on smooth metal glides. IKEA does sell separate soft-closing mechanisms (the KOMPLEMENT series) that can sometimes be adapted to work, but it would require a DIY approach.
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